Electric meter jumper detector



Sept. 21, 1937. M. H'. MAY

. ELECTRIC METER JUMPER DETECTOR Filed May 20, 19:57

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 21,1937. I I M MAY 2,093,467

ELECTRIC METER JUMPER DETECTOR v Filed May 20, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 133 .5 0 Z;2' ,6

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PATENT @FMQIE 2,093,467 ELECTRIC METER JUMPER. DETECTOR.

Merle H. May, Albert Lea, Minn.

Application May 20, 1937, Serial No. 143,710

3 Claims.

My invention relates to integrating electric meters and particularly to devices for detecting the jumpering of such meters.

It has been the practise of many dishonest customers of electric power utility companies to employ various means for causing their electric meters to record less than the actual amount of electrical energy consumed. Probably the most commonly used method of effecting theft of electrical energy consists of jumpering the meter, thatis, making an electrical connection externally of the meter to portions of the wiring associated therewith in such manner that the current coil orcircuit of themeter is shunted out of 5 the circuit or short-circuited. Such meter jumperingis usually carried out by means of quickly removable means of such nature as to ordinarily leave no evidence of its use and the dishonest customer takes care to leave such jumpering means in use only part of the time and to remove the same whenever a visit of a meter reader or an inspector is anticipated. Obviously, the electric servicecompanies find it very difficult to detect many of the cases of meter jumpering and, in

. cases where jumpering has been known or suspected to have been practised, to obtain positive evidence of such tampering.

It is a general object of my invention to provide an automatic device for detecting and providing evidence of current theft effected through jumpering of an electric: meter.

A more specific object is to provide such a device adapted to be contained within and protected by the case of a meter.

35. Another object is to provide such a device in cluding a visual indicating elementwhich, when once operated, will remain in operated position until manually reset and which requires, for resetting, access to the interior of the meter with which it is associated.

Yet another object is to provide such a device including means for reversing the direction of rotation of a meter and indicating means responsive only to reversed rotation of the meter.

A further object is to provide such a device of light, compact, simple, reliable and inexpensive construction and which can be easily incorporated in the structure of an otherwise conventional type of integrating electric meter.

These and other objects and advantages of the V invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference r characters refer to the same or similar parts throughoutcthetseveral views, and in which:--

Fig. 1 is a general front view of a watt-hour meter wherein an embodiment of my invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional rear View of a portion of the meter of Fig. 1; 5

Fig. 3 is a partially broken-awaytop view;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of certain parts as seen from above the same;

Fig. 5 is a general front view of another watthour meter having another embodiment of my invention incorporated therein; i

Fig. 6 is a partial side view of a portion of the meter of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 7 is a partial top view of a portion of the meter of Fig. 5; 15

Fig. 8 is an electrical connection diagram for a 2-wire, single phase, alternating current watthour meter having my device included therein;

and 1 Fig. 9 is an electrical connection diagram for 20 a 3-wire, single phase, alternating current watthour meter having my device included therein.

My indicating means consists, in general, of an indicator which is actuated responsive to reverse rotation of the rotating parts of a meter combined with means for causing reverse rotation responsive to the establishment of an electrical connection jumpering the meter, that is, short-circuiting the meter terminals associated with the current coil of the meter. 39

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate one embodiment of my invention incorporated in an otherwise conventional alternating current watt-hour meter A having a base or frame Ill and a glass cover H together comprising a casing containing a conventional meter assembly including a vertical disc shaft l2, a verticalsecond shaft l3 suitably geared tothe disc shaft. l2, a register I4 suitably geared to the second shaft [3, and the usual type of magnetic 40 core carrying respective current and potential coils of conventional design.

To the above generally described conventional type of electric watt-hour meter A I add indicating means designed to produce a visual indication upon the occurrence of reverse or anti-normal rotation of the second shaft is of the meter A and arranged to remain in indicating or operated position, even though normal rotation is resumed, until manually reset to normal or unoperated position.

Upon the second shaft 53 I provide a generally annular element substantially concentrically secured thereto to rotate therewith and having a r generally spirally disposed groove or passage extending therethrough from the interior periphery to the exterior periphery thereof. I have found it convenient to form this annular element by concentrically securing a disc I5 to the shaft l3 and mounting a spirally bent flat strip it of sheet material, such as sheet metal or the equivalent, to the disc |5 as best seen in Fig. 4. The spiral strip H5 is secured along its lower edge to the disc l5 and extends through more than 360 degrees so as to overlap and provide a spirally extending groove or passage Mia. The normal direction of rotation of the second shaft I3 is clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 and indicated by an arrow in Fig. 4 and the spiral shape of the strip l6 winds in such direction that an element 20 movable radially of the shaft I3 and disposed in the passage Hia will be cammed inwardly by the strip l6 when the shaft I3 is rotated in its normal direction.

A bracket projects horizontally rearwardly of and is supported from the register M of the meter A. A horizontal pivot shaft i8 is journalled at its forward and rearward ends in suitable apertures in respective upstanding portions Hat and Ill) of the bracket H. The rear portion of the pivot shaft |8 carries a bell crank l9 having arms HM. and |9b normally projecting respectively vertically and horizontally as best seen in Fig. 2. The free end of the vertical arm |9a carries an element 28 extending toward the second shaft |3 at a level slightly above the upper edge of the cam strip l6 and projecting downwardly at its free end to form a follower 20a engaging the cam strip I6. The free end of the horizontal bell crank arm |9b carries a weight element 2| for yieldingly urging the follower 20a radially outwardly of the second shaft I3 and the camming strip l6. Normally the follower 20a is disposed inwardly of the camming strip I6 and bears outwardly thereagainst. During forward (normal) rotation of the second shaft |3 the follower 20a will be retained within the camming strip IE but, during the first revolution of reverse (anti-normal) rotation of the second shaft |3, the follower 20a will pass through the spiral passage 6a and be released from influence of the camming strip l6 to be shifted outwardly therefrom by the pull of gravity on the weight 2|.

Suitable indicating means, preferably of a visual nature, is associated with the pivot shaft |8 to be operated by the outward movement of the follower 20a resulting from reverse rotation of the second shaft l3. The forward upstanding portion Ila of the bracket I1 is extended upwarde ly along and is suitably secured to the rear side of the register I4 and is further extended forwardly at He over the upper side of the register l4 and then upwardly in generally flush relation with the front face of the register I4 to form an upstanding member Md. The marginal portions along the vertical edges of the upstanding member lid are bent rearwardly to form cars We. The left-hand portion (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3) .of the upstanding member IId is provided with a viewing aperture 22.

A generally upwardly extending arm 23 is mounted on the pivot shaft l8 and is provided at its upper end with a forwardly projecting extension 2311. on the forward end of which is secured a .disc 24 disposed closely behind and parallel to the upstanding member lid and comprising an indicating target for cooperation with the viewing aperture 22. The arm 23 and its extension 23a are so proportioned and arranged that, under normal conditions when the follower 20a is disposed inwardly of the camming strip IS, the target 24 will be disposed behind and concealed by the unapertured right-hand (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3) portion of the upstanding mem ber Nd and, when the follower has reached a position outwardly of the camming strip It will be disposed behind and visible through the viewing aperture 22. It should be obvious that reverse rotation of the rotating elements of the meter will cause appearance of the target 24 in registration with the Viewing aperture 22. Also it is to be noted that the weight 2| will hold the target in operated or indicating position even though normal forward rotation of the rotatable elements of the meter A be resumed subsequent to reverse rotation. Resetting of the target 24 may be accomplished by manually urging the same toward normal non-indicating position while manually rotating the disc lid of the meter forwardly through a suitable number of revolutions. The left-hand (as viewed in Fig. 3) one of the ears lie on the upstanding member lld functions as a stop to limit leftward movement of the target 24 when the same has been operated. Preferably the front face of the target 24 should be rendered relatively conspicuous by the application thereto of suitable coloring matter.

Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive illustrate another embodiment of my invention as applied to a Watt-hour meter B which is arranged somewhat differently than the meter A shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and which includes a frame or base 25 and a glass cover 26 which together comprise a meter casing, a vertical disc shaft 21 having worm gear threads 21a thereon driving a gear 28 mounted on a second shaft 29 which, in turn is suitably geared to a register 30.

A generally spirally extending camming strip 3| is carried by the second shaft 29 in generally concentric relation thereto as by securing an edge of the strip 3| to the gear 28. The gear 28 normally rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6 and the camming strip 3| is spiralled in such direction as to tend to displace an element bearing against the inner side thereof inwardly during such rotation. A bracket 32 is secured to the lower front portion of the register 3E1 by suitable means such as the screw 32a and extends rearwardly to a point behind the rear side of the register 30. The rear end of the bracket 32 is formed into a pair of horizontally spaced, apertured ears 321) through which a pivot pin 33 extends. ward end of a normally rearwardly projecting and horizontally disposed plate 34 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 33. The rear portion of the plate 34 carries a normally vertically upwardly projecting element 35 extending closely past the free edge of the lower portion of the camming strip 3| and which is, at its free end,

bent toward the gear 28 to form a follower 35a normally engaging the inner side of the lower portion of the camming strip 3| to support the plate 34 in horizontal position as shown in full lines in Fig. 6. Obviously the follower 350. will remain in a position inwardly of the camming strip 3| during normal (counter-clockwise) rotation of the second shaft 29 but, during the first revolution of reverse (clockwise) rotation, will pass through the spirally disposed groove or passage 3la to permit dropping of the plate, responsive to the pull of gravity, to a depending position thereof as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The plate 34 functions as an indicating target which is not visible from Between the ears 32b the for the front *ofthemeter B when infihorizontal poformer to e2 3 wire;single phase, alternating cur- 'sitionbutwhich can be seen immediately below rent watt-hour meter toicause reverse rotation theregister 30- whenirrreleased ordeperiding poof' the rotatingparts of themeterresponsive to sition as the result 'of-reverse rotation of the roestabl isliiment of electrical connections jumpergt tating elements of th'e-meter B.- l referably the ing tha -meter. The meter .of Fig. 9 is of the type 5 side of the plate 34 facinggthe'front when in adapt'ed for use-with a -3 -wire,-115+230:voltialdepending position'should be r'endered relatively ternating current circuit such as indicated in l "conspicuous {by"the applicatiorr thereto' 'of suit- Fig. 9 by the outer wiresX and Y 'andi thec neuablecoloring-rrfatter. tr-al wire NJ The meter haslineterminals 45 i -10 rlmoperated "peeitiom by a ually-raising the coil 49-normally connectedthrough the line tersame to bring the follower -35a-intoengagement Initials 45 and 46 to the lin'e wires X and Y, one fWith thecamming strip 3| and rotating-the disc current coiltfl connected in-series with line wire 21a of the meter B in its normal direction of ro- K through line terminal 45- and load terminal tation 'until the follower 35a has been received 41, and-*anothercurrent coil 5| connected in seepin thepassage 3la' fdefinedby the'overlapping "-ries with 'line' wire' Y through line terminal--46 j end-portions of the-camming strip 3I. -'and'='load-terminal 4B. Jumpering oftthismeter i Means forcausingtherotating -parts of each is accomplished "by establishment of either=or of-the meters A 'and-B to rotate in areverse or both oft-he'connections shown in dotted lines lltzo anti-normal direction'responsiveto jumpering of at 52 and '53 soas to short circuit one or botlnszo "theme ter is provided for co-operation with the of the current -coils 5|) and 5|. "reverse rotation indicating devices described -Inthe meter of Fig. 9 I install a'transformer" 54 above; Figures 8 and 9 diagrammatically illushaving a primary winding 54a suited 'for the m "trate'such'meanse for use respectively in 2-wire voltage existingbetween linewires X and land and 3-'Wire,'single' phase, watt-hour meters. two secondary windings 54ba-nd 54c;-the trans- Figi 8"cornprises"an electrical connection diaformer otherwise i being substantially identical gram. of a conventional watt-hour meter havwiththetransformer 43 of-Fig. 8. "The secondary ing 'a' current coil 36, a potential coil 31, line winding 5% is connected between the line termiterminals 38 and 39, and load terminals 4|] and ""nal ifi and the common-input; connection "55 to 4|, of whichthe terminals 38 and 4| are assothe current coil 50 and one end of the potential ciated with the current coil 36 and are connected coil 49. The other secondary winding 540 is together externally of the meter, as indicated by connected between the line terminal 46 and the the dotted line 42, when a dishonest electrical ommon input connection to the current coil 5| energy consumer desires to render the meter inand the remaining end of the potential coil 49. operative. Each of the secondary windings 54b and 54c is In accordance with my invention, I place a connected in such phase relation tothe circuit 3 small transformer 43 within the casing of the with which it is associated as to p u a 11 meter and connect the primary winding 43a of rent in the corresponding one of the current coils the transformer 43 to theline terminals 38 and 50 and 5| flowing in a direction opposite to the 40 39 so as to excite the transformer 43 from line al d i n o e t w e j p potential ahead of the meter c0i1 The 530- connections such as 52 and 53 are established. ondary winding 43b of the transformer 43 is he ransformers 43 of Fig. 8 and 54 of Fi connected between the line terminal 38 and the 9 are preferably mounted Within the Casings o usual common connection 44 to the current and the meters With Which y are used for potential coils 36 and 31. 'I'hetransformer 43 p in e ner f the transformer 51 45 is connected in such phase relation as to con- Shown Within the meter A in stitute a bucking transformer but the voltage for Since all Of the Parts Of y indicating ice which t secondary winding" 43 is d sufare situated within the casing of the meter with ficiently low t t t magnitude of t bucking which the device is associated, it is apparent that voltage is substantially negligible relative to the the d v is safeguarded f tamp ri g y th 50 magnitude of the line voltage. The transformer Sealing devices which are customarily p y 43 is preferably arranged to have a relatively high to Seal the Case Of the meterleakage reactance as, for example, by providing While my combination of a reverse rotation doan air gap 430 in the core th re f, tector and a transformer connected to cause re- Should be apparent t making a jumper verse rotation in a jumpered meter are described 55 connection such as that indicated by the dotted as applied to an ordinary single phase, alternatline 42 will prevent normal current flow through s current, dlrect connected tu me e the current coil 36 and thus prevent recording Such as Ordinarily used for domestic Service, it of electrical energy flowing through a circuit in Should be apparent that my ljumper detecting The target -34=may-be reset-to its normalor v arid -it, load terminals '41 and 48, a- .potenti'al o in which the meter is connected. However, with Combination may be readily p ed for use with 60 t tran former 43 provided as described, the polyphase meters, meters connected to the line jumper connection 42 111 complete a circuit through instrument transformers, ampere-hour through which the transformer secondary windmeters, reactlve'volt-ampele 110111 meters, y ing 43 1 pass current through t current other device having rotating elements rotated by coil 36 in a direction opposite to the normal dione more Current 00115- 65 rection of current flow in the coil 36. This antire, my reverse rotation detector, normal or reverse flow f current through the without the transformer, is useful where an eleccurrent coil as will obviously cause the rotating tncel ehergy customer ss e e qu pment parts f the meter to rotate in a direction oppo connectible to a metered circuit and it is desired site to normal so asto operate the reverse rotato detect any e Where e customer causes his tion indicating device, which when once 1,. generating equipment to deliver energy back into ated, will remain in operated position even though the h 0f the electrlc Servlce p y.

the jumper connection 42 is removed and the It 15 pp thetI have invented novel, effec- F meter resumes normal metering operation, tive, compact, rugged, reliable and inexpensive Fig. 9 illustrates the application of a trans apparatus for detecting reverse rotation of an integrating electric'meter and current 7 changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement, and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination with a rotatable member normally rotated in a predetermined direction, mechanism for establishing an indication of the occurrence of reverse rotation of said member comprising, a generally annular element carried by said member in generally concentric relation thereto to rotate therewith, said element having a substantially spirally extending passage therethrough between its insage.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 and said follower being free for outward movement beyond the limits of said annular element to prevent automatic return of said follower to normal position responsive to resumption of forward rotation of said annular element subsequent to reverse rotation thereof.

3. In combination with an electrical integrating meter adapted to be connected in an electrical supply circuit to meter the flow of energy therein and including a current coil and a member rotatable in response to flow of electrical energy through said coil, means in said meter for causing reverse rotation of said member responsive to establishment of connections jumpering said meter, an element carried by said member in spirally disposed relation to the axis thereof and arranged to rotate with said member, a follower normally engaging the inner side of said element and shiftable inwardly and outwardly thereof, said element being spiralled in such direction as to tend to progress said follower inwardly and outwardly responsive to respective normal and reverse rotations of said member, yieldable means urging said follower outwardly, and indicating means associated with said follower to be actuated by. the same responsive to outward movement thereof.

MERLE H. MAY. 

